Device for the sterilization of ampoules

ABSTRACT

Device for the sterilization of ampoules comprising a rotatable drum, means for maintaining ampoules in position comprising at least one pair of wires maintained under tension on said drum, and sterilizing means for sterilizing ampoules held by said wires.

United States Patent 15 1 3,660,633 Meder et al. [4 1 May 2, 1972 [54]DEVICE FOR THE STERILIZATION OF AMPOULES [56] References Cited [72]inventors: Andr Fernand Meder, SaintLouis, UNITED STATES PATENTS France;Max Rudolf Jaeggi, Basel, Swit- Zerland 2,705,913 4/1955 Bloom ..219/388X 3,376,689 4/l968 Simpson et al..... ....2l9/9l X [73] Assignee:Constr. Metalliques et Mecaniques EU- 3 421 840 1/1969 Pechmann Uzi/92 xGENE MEDER Saim'LwiS France 3 462 582 8/1969 Cines....' ..219/388 [22']Filed: Dec. 11, 1968 Primary Examiner-Velodymyr Y. Mayewsky [21] App!782909 Artorney-Robert E. Burns [30] Foreign Application Priority Data[5 7] 7 ABSTRACT Dec. 1 i, 1967 France i 3 i 733 v Device for'thesterilization of ampoules comprising a rotatable v v drum, means formaintaining ampoules in position comprising [52] US. Cl ..219/388,21/80, 21/92, at least one pair of wires maintained under tension onsaid 219/521 drum, and sterilizing means for sterilizing ampoules heldby [5 I Int. Cl. ..'...,....H05b 7/18 id wires [58] Field ofSearch..219/388,5 21,46947l;

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR STERILIZATION F AMPOULES whichthe ampoules are ,moved. It is necessary for these tunnelsto beextremely long and cumbersomesince a considerable time isnecessary forthe drying of the ampoules even more so when these ampoules are held bydevices amongst others aluminiumplaques,which noticeably prolong theevaporation time and thus the time for drying the. washing water.Rotatable devices have also been produced. These, while being lesscumbersome'than the tunnels do f-not give entire satisfaction. Thusampoules are placed'in racks the mass of which considerably slows downthe heating and consequently the sterilization. 1

Consequently the invention proposes to provide a rotatable device forthe sterilization of ampouleswhich allows an automatic loading andunloading of ampoules'without racks at the same time considerablyreducing the sterilization time, thus assuring an-increased output forlower bulkiness than with known devices.

To this end, the invention provides a rotatable device for thesterilization of ampouls characterized in that the drum, associated withloading and unloading means and capable of being provided with safetydevices, comprises pairs of stretched wires assuring the maintenance ofthe ampoules.

The invention will be well understood by referring to the followingdescription made by way of nonlimiting example, as wellas to theenclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the principle of the device. 1

FIG. 2 is a partial view ofthe drum with the wires.

FIG. 3 is a section of the means offixation and tension of the wires. 1

FIG. 4 is a view of ailoading plate provided with ampoules.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of the loading means.

' FlG."6is a sectionof the loadingsmeans,-and

FIG. 7 is a section of'the unloadingmeans.

Referring to FIG. 11, the rotatable sterilization device comprises adrum 1' turning about its axis and provided .with'loading means 2andunloadingmeans 3. These means 2 and 3 are preferably automaticbut thefeedingof means 2 and/or the emptying of means 3 can-be manual. The drumis partially enclosed by a stationaryenc'losure "50 extending angularlyfrom the-loading means2 to theunloadinglmeans 3.

During a part of their path, the ampoules 4 are heated by heating organs5,'prefera' bly electric. The cooling .down isassured by a current ofsterilized airf6. The ampoules 4 thus-arrive at the unloadingmeans 3 atthe desired temperature.

.Refe-rringto FlG. .2,'the drum 1 comprises two side plates 7 and 8between which are stretched pairs of wires parallel to the axis of thedrum 1. The two wires 9 of a pair are close enough together to assurefixation of thefampoules 4 at .the level of their necks '10 The saidampoules4 are thus sufficientlymaintainedinposition and :no'accessoryelement is in- :terposed to theirheatingnor toitheir recooling.

It ispreferable that-at the moment of theintroduction or the removal ofampoules 4, thetwo wires 9 of a pair are separated one from 'theother sothat the movement of the-said ampoules 4 can take place withoutIforcing.-Referring to H0. 3 there is shown an example of an embodimentfor tensioning the wires.

The 'twowire's9 of a'pair areformed-in fact fromone single wire'9 ofwhich the two extremities and 1-1 arefixed in a stopper12 of which apart 13 penetrates into side plate 7. On the side of plate 8the .wire9isdoubled back by an axle l4 solid-with anelement 15 .which canslipinthesocket .16 which penetrates in the said side plate 58. A spring 17supported on thesocket l6 tendsxtorepel the element 15 and ensures thetension of the=wire. 9. To disengage wire :9 from the drum it issufficient to .presson the element .15 which loosens the wire 9andallows disengagementofjthe stopper l2. Slots 7 and 8 providedrespectivelyin-.the;two;sideaplates'7 and.;8 thus permit the positioningof the assembly of wire 9'stopper l2---- socket l6.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the ampoules 4 are lodged in .a rack 18,provided with cavities l9 furnished, at the bottom,

with hole 20. The said rack 18 slides in inclined guides 21 until it isstopped by the first row of ampoules which comes into engagement againstan abutment 22.

Said abutment 22 is provided with steps 23 each cooperating with anampoule 4 and assuring its guidance inthe sense of v arrow a. A rake 24,movable in the sense of arrow 0 by the aid, for example, of a pneumaticjack 25, is provided with rods 26 disposed in a manner such that theycan penetrate into the holes 20. I I

When a pair of wires 9 is-in position the drum 1 stops and the rake 24is moved up. The rods 26 pass through the holes' 20 in the upwarddirection towards ampoules 4 of the row in contact with the abutment 22.

An element 27 furnished with steps 28 similar to steps 23 is positionedin alignment with the abutment 22 and assures the continuity of guidanceof the ampoules 4 until their necks 10 are placed between the wires 9.At this moment the movement of rake 24 is interrupted.

While the drum is stopped two punches 29 are moved to separate the wires9 one from the other. When the ampoules 4 are in position the punches 29retract and ampoules 4 are maintained in place by the wires 9. At thisinstant the rake 24 moves back down, the rods 26 are extracted fromholes 20 and the rack 18 advances by one row. The element 27 can bemovable aboutan axis 30 in the sense of arrow b to move the ampoules 4which were not taken up-by the wires 9 or which had broken. 1

Referring to FIG. 7, when the row of ampoules 4 maintained between thewires 9 arrive at the level of the unloading means 3'the drum isstopped. Punches (not shown) similar to the punches 29 move to separatethe wires 9 and the ampoules 4 of the row slide in the direction ofarrow c until an abutment plate 31. A fixed element 32 furnished withsteps and analogical to the element 27 assures guiding of the ampoules 4during their descent.

An element 33 which elongates element 32 is solid with the abutmentplate 3-1 and serves to maintain in place ampoules 4 which have arrivedon said plate 31, which is carried by an arm 34 movable about an axis35. The plate 31, loaded with the row of ampoules 4 is turned about theaxis- 3.5 until it comes into place horizontally behind an evacuatingtable 36.

At this moment the element 33 slides with respect to the plate 31 in thedirection of the arrow d and pushes the ampoules 4 onto the table 36.Then the assembly of plaque 31- element 33 is replaced in its initialposition. Any means whatsoever (wires, plates) can be placed to preventthe ampoules 4 falling from the table 36.

Naturally, other'means of unloading and loading can be used. It isequally possible to preview various safety means. Thus for example it isappropriate to prevent the supply of ampoules 4 when a wire 9, in thesupply position, is broken.

To this end it is sufficient to place at a suitable position anelectrical contact actuated by the element 15 which, when the ticularembodiment, of course it is not limited thereto and variousmodifications of form and matter can be made without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for the sterilization of ampoules comprising a rotatable drum,drive means for rotating said drum, means for maintaining ampoules inposition comprising at least one pair of wires maintained under tensionon said drum, an angularly fixed heating enclosure partially enclosingsaid drum, and electric heating means in said enclosure for heating andthereby sterilizing ampoules held by said wires.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wires are positioned.substantially at the edges of the drum and substantially parallel to theaxis thereof.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of wirescomprises a single wire the two ends of which are fixed at one edge ofthe drum, the wire being maintained under tension by the action of aspring at the axially opposing edge of the drum.

4.- Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sides of the drum areprovided with axially opposite slits provided with stopper members forfixing said wires therein.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each axially opposite' pair ofstopper members comprise one member with a socket containinga springacting on an axle engaging said wire near its mid-point andtensioningsaid wire and another member provided with two holes and meansfor locking the .ends of the wire therein.

means for unloading a plurality of ampoules engaged in a pair of wires.

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, comprising means for separating pairsof wires to release ampoules maintained therein, inclined means adaptedto receive released ampoules by sliding therein, stop means for saidampoules provided on said inclined means, said stop means and at leastpart of said inclined means adapted to rotatably transfer said ampoulesto a desired position.

10. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of wires isprovided with signal means which operate if the wire breaks. I

11. Device as claimed in claim I, provided further with means forproviding a current of sterilized air on the drum at a fixed angularposition for 'cooling said ampoules after they have been sterilized bysaid heating means.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for stopping saiddrum with a pair of wires at said angularly fixed positions for loadingand unloading ampoules, and means for initiating rotation of the drumonce said operations of loading and unloading are terminated.

1. Device for the sterilization of ampoules comprising a rotatable drum,drive means for rotating said drum, means for maintaining ampoules inposition comprising at least one pair of wires maintained under tensionon said drum, an angularly fixed heating enclosure partially enclosingsaid drum, and electric heating means in said enclosure for heating andthereby sterilizing ampoules held by said wires.
 2. Device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said wires are positioned substantially at the edges ofthe drum and substantially parallel to the axis thereof.
 3. Device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of wires comprises asingle wire the two ends of which are fixed at one edge of the drum, thewire being maintained under tension by the action of a spring at theaxially opposing edge of the drum.
 4. Device as claimed in claim 3,wherein the sides of the drum are provided with axially opposite slitsprovided with stopper members for fixing said wires therein.
 5. Deviceas claimed in claim 4, wherein each axially opposite pair of stoppermembers comprise one member with a socket containing a spring acting onan axle engaging said wire near its mid-point and tensioning said wireand another member provided with two holes and means for locking theends of the wire therein.
 6. Device as claimed in claim 1, comprisingmeans for loading a plurality of ampoules onto a pair of wires. 7.Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said loading means comprises aplurality of inclined guides in which ampoules may be slidinglysupplied, means for moving said ampoules along said guides, means forseparating pairs of wires for engagement of ampoules therein andbringing said pairs of wires together to maintain said ampoules inposition.
 8. Device as claimed in claim 1, comprising unloading meansfor unloading a plurality of ampoules engaged in a pair of wires. 9.Device as claimed in claim 8, comprising means for separating pairs ofwires to release ampoules maintained therein, inclined means adapted toreceive released ampoules by sliding therein, stop means for saidampoules provided on said inclined means, said stop means and at leastpart of said inclined means adapted to rotatably transfer said ampoulesto a desired position.
 10. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ofsaid pairs of wires is provided with signal means which operate if thewire breaks.
 11. Device as claimed in claim 1, provided further withmeans for providing a current of sterilized air on the drum at a fixedangular position for cooling said ampoules after they have beensterilized by said heating means.
 12. Device as claimed in claim 1,comprising means for stopping said drum with a pair of wires at saidangularly fixed positions for loading and unloading ampoules, and meansfor initiating rotation of the drum once said operations of loading andunloading are terminated.